The Cabinet that sits at the fulcrum of our democracy needs to change
The Commission on Political Power today (25 June 2025) published a briefing paper setting out the changes needed to reform the Cabinet structure to make it fit for 21st century democracy.
The Commission held a series of evidence sessions with former Cabinet secretaries and former ministers during a four month investigation into the recent history of the Cabinet to interrogate what reforms are needed.
The Commission suggests six reforms to make the Cabinet function more efficiently and to enhance its democratic accountability.
1. The role and decision making responsibilities of the Cabinet should be defined more clearly
2. The problem of leaks must be addressed
3. There needs to be more systematic and structured support for the Opposition Cabinet
4. There should be a Prime Minister's department
5. Frequent changes of departmental heads should be avoided
6. The workings of the Cabinet should be more transparent
The Commission on Political Power has published seven briefing papers setting out ideas for reform of government: the head of state, local government, citizens' engagement, the executive, local government, creation of a Senate and today it publishes its final paper on the Cabinet which is being presented to a meeting in the House of Lords hosted by the Co-convenor, Baroness Frances D'Souza.
The full paper can be found on the Commission website at:
Options Paper 7: Reform of the Cabinet
The Commission held a series of seminars with key experts and notes from the meetings can be found here:
Rt Hon Dominic Grieve KC and Rt Hon Robert Buckland KC
Lord Richard Wilson and Lord Robin Butler
2025